Story by
Every Ravens defensive position battle to track in training camp
- Story by
- Every Ravens defensive position battle to track in training camp
The Baltimore Ravens have the top-end defensive talent to enter training camp with one of the NFL's most complete rosters, but several important roles still need to be settled before Week 1.
Roquan Smith , Kyle Hamilton , Marlon Humphrey , Nate Wiggins , Nnamdi Madubuike , Travis Jones , and Trey Hendrickson give Baltimore a strong defensive core. The questions come behind them. The Ravens must sort through the third cornerback role, determine how the safety rotation looks behind Hamilton and Malaki Starks , settle the linebacker spot next to Smith, and identify which edge rushers and defensive linemen will earn regular snaps.
Advertisement
These are the defensive position battles to track during Ravens training camp.
1. CB3 and slot cornerback
Humphrey and Wiggins are locked into major roles, but the third cornerback and slot picture will be one of the most important defensive competitions of camp. Chidobe Awuzie gives Baltimore an experienced veteran option with the size and background to handle outside work, while T.J. Tampa , Amani Oruwariye , Bilhal Kone , Robert Longerbeam , Chandler Rivers, Lardarius Webb Jr., Matthew McDoom, Keyon Martin , and Marquise Robinson give the Ravens a deep group of defensive backs fighting for roles.
The question is not only who starts in nickel. It is how the Ravens want to deploy Humphrey. If he spends more time inside, the outside depth becomes more important. If Baltimore wants Humphrey and Wiggins outside together, the Ravens need a reliable nickel option to emerge. Awuzie has the experience to settle into one role quickly, but Tampa's size, Kone's developmental traits, Longerbeam's offseason buzz, and Rivers' rookie speed give the competition more layers.
Advertisement
2. Keondre Jackson vs. Jaylinn Hawkins in the safety rotation
Hamilton and Starks give Baltimore a high-end safety foundation, but the next layer of the position remains important because of how often the Ravens can use three-safety looks. Hawkins brings veteran experience, range, and special teams value, while Keondre Jackson gives Baltimore a bigger safety at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds who can push for a more defined role entering his second season.
This battle may come down to trust. Hawkins has the experience to handle communication and coverage rules, while Jackson's size and physical profile make him an intriguing matchup piece. The Ravens do not need either player to replace Hamilton or Starks. They need one of them to become dependable enough to handle sub-package work, special teams snaps, and injury insurance if the safety room is tested during the season.
3. Defensive line rotation
Madubuike, Jones, Campbell, Broderick Washington Jr., and John Jenkins give Baltimore a strong veteran base up front, but the rotational jobs behind them will be worth watching. Aeneas Peebles , Rayshaun Benny, Aaron Graves , Dion Wilson Jr., David Olajig, and C.J. Okoye are competing for depth roles in a room that blends proven experience with developmental size and power.
Advertisement
The Ravens have several different body types in the competition. Jenkins and Okoye bring massive interior size. Peebles gives Baltimore a quicker, more compact defensive lineman at 6-foot and 289 pounds. Benny, a rookie from Michigan, gives the room another young tackle to develop. Graves and Wilson are rookies trying to prove they can handle the physical jump. The final defensive line spots could come down to who can play multiple techniques, hold up against the run, un and offer enough pass-rush value to justify a game-day role.
4. LB2 next to Roquan Smith
Smith remains the centerpiece of the linebacker room, but the spot next to him is still one of Baltimore's biggest defensive questions. Trenton Simpson has the athletic traits and experience advantage after playing 407 defensive snaps and 236 special teams snaps last season. Teddye Buchanan is also part of the long-term picture, though his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in Week 15 will shape his timeline and availability.
Dominic DeLuca, Carl Jones Jr., Jay Higgins IV, and Reid Williford add more competition behind the top names. Simpson's path is clear: communicate better, fit the run cleanly, and become more dependable in coverage. If he takes the next step, the Ravens can keep Smith in his natural role and avoid rotating heavily next to him. If the competition stays open, linebacker could remain one of the more unsettled defensive spots through the preseason.
Advertisement
5. Edge rotation behind Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson gives Baltimore a proven lead pass rusher, but the rest of the edge rotation may determine how dangerous the defense becomes under Anthony Weaver. Mike Green , Tavius Robinson , Adisa Isaac , Zion Young, Kaimon Rucke,r and Ethan Burke give the Ravens several different profiles competing for snaps.
Green brings a burst and a second-year jump opportunity. Robinson has size and experience at 6-foot-6 and 262 pounds. Isaac needs to turn his traits into a more consistent role. Young, a rookie from Missouri, is one of the most intriguing players in the group because of his power, length, and production. Rucker and Burke are fighting to prove they can contribute on defense while also adding value on special teams. The Ravens need more than one answer here. They need a rotation that can keep Hendrickson fresh and still create pressure when he is not on the field.
6. Final special teams spots
The final defensive roster spots will likely be shaped by special teams as much as defense. That makes players such as Wallace, Webb, McDoom, Martin, Robinson, Kone, Chandler Rivers, DeLuca, Jones, Higgins, Williford, Rucker, and Burke especially important during camp and preseason games.
Advertisement
Baltimore's back-end defensive backs and reserve linebackers have to show they can cover kicks, tackle in space, and handle multiple special teams assignments. The same applies to edge rushers trying to win the final outside linebacker spots. A player who is fifth or sixth at his position defensively can still make the roster if he becomes one of the most trusted special teams contributors.
Final analysis
The Ravens have enough star power on defense to contend immediately, but training camp will decide how deep the unit really is. The CB3 and slot battle will shape the secondary. The Hawkins-Jackson competition will affect the safety rotation. The defensive line must identify reliable depth behind its veterans. Linebacker needs clarity next to Smith, and the edge rotation must produce more than one dependable pass rusher.
Those answers will help determine whether Baltimore's defense is simply talented at the top or complete across the roster.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Every Ravens defensive position battle to track in training camp
